Derek Row and his new book

Shrewsbury’s Derek Row reckoned that as he was only ever likely to write one book, he may as well make it a good one.

So he has poured his heart, soul, and not a little money into his first – and last – book, splashing out on full colour printing to ensure that it is a real showcase of which he can be enduringly proud.

“Shrewsbury – A Heritage of Old Inns and Taverns” is the product of years of research, featuring all the county town’s pubs throughout history, complete with photos and interesting anecdotes about them.

“It’s something I wanted to do and enjoyed researching,” said Derek, who was a plumbing and heating engineer, but for the last 10 years before his retirement was a technical adviser with Aga Rayburn at Ketley.

“All my life I’ve kept out of the public eye, and never wanted to push myself forward, but this is a statement, with my name on the book, something I really wanted to do for my own satisfaction.

“I’ve already sold 60 copies. I’m pleased, although I think it’s going to take me something like 18 months to cover my costs.”

Using full colour added to those costs but Derek said: “It’s the first book I’ve ever done and will probably be the last book I ever do. I wanted something that really stood out. I wanted it in colour because it adds that little extra.”

Dedicated

Derek, who turns 68 on May 7, has self-published the book – in other words, he has paid for its production himself – and the cover was designed by himself and his son Jason.

“We wanted something different. We didn’t want all pubs on the front like most other books were, but something more eyecatching.”

The book is dedicated to his late mother, Grace Kerry, who years ago worked in a number of Shropshire pubs – the Valley Hotel, Ironbridge; the Swan at Bridgnorth; and the Beacon, at Shrewsbury.

Derek has been researching his book for five years, but more intensively since retiring three years ago. His research has included seeking out and chatting to old landlords, turning up tales of ghosts, murders, and funny stories, and digging out information in the local studies library.

Birmingham-born, he says his interest in the pubs began when he moved to the county town from Broseley in 1968.

“I got friendly with a neighbour and we decided we would go round every single pub in Shrewsbury and have a drink. I wanted to see them all. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a drinker. I was mainly interested in looking at the old buildings.”

What kick-started his research was being given a big list of all the pubs in Shrewsbury from 1863.

Derek says his book covers all the inns, taverns and public houses that existed in Shrewsbury – even ones that have no known exact location or very little is known about them. It also includes sections on the town’s breweries and about the birth of inns, taverns and ale houses, and also some photos of licensees.

With pubs closing and some being demolished, he wants to preserve the information for posterity.

“The pub scene is declining very rapidly. Unfortunately there are very few pubs which have an olde worlde atmosphere where you go in, enjoy a pint, talk and relax. Most of them have been renovated. They don’t seem to have the same character as they used to have 30 or 40 years ago, plus they don’t have the same ‘character’ landlords.

“The landlords used to stay a minimum of five years. Nowadays they seem to turn over every 18 months.”

The 260-page book has about 400 photos in colour and black and white, and costs £18.99.

It is available via e-mail from Derek at dcrow@tiscali.co.uk, or by phone 01743 367265, or by writing to him at: Derek Row, 17 Leyburn Avenue, Copthorne, Shrewsbury SY2 8TP. Add £5 for postage and packing.

Derek says it can also be bought at Pengwern books, Waterstone’s, and W H Smiths in Shrewsbury.